Modesto poet to give reading at Merced College

A Modesto-area poet will give a reading in Merced from his newest book later this month.

Gordon Preston will read from “Pieces of Monterey Bay” at noon Oct. 24 at Merced College, 3600 M St. Finishing Line Press published the book.

Preston worked for 35 years as a landscaper and gardener. He taught in the California Poets in the Schools program, a statewide literary program for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and has been a contributing editor and publisher of poetry journals “Cafeteria” and “Hardpan,” among others, according to a press release.

He has hosted and performed poetry readings at art galleries, coffee houses and patio restaurants for many years, event organizers said. Preston earned awards from the Sacramento Poetry Center and was a founding member in the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center. His poems appear in “Cutbank,” “Blue Mesa Review,” “The Missouri Review,” “Rattle” and “Tiger’s Eye.” He recently participated in the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, a summer writing program.

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